Stirling Charolais peak at 50,000gns; 80 bulls average £7,085

staff reporter

British Charolais met a solid demand from a packed Stirling ringside on Tuesday 20 October where prices peaked at 50,000gns and 80 entries sold through the ring to average £7,085 at the breed society’s autumn sale. Charolais once again remained dominant during the week’s multi-beef breed fixtures, by recording the highest number of bulls sold, highest average price and highest top price.

The Society Chairman Steven Nesbitt remarked that “the buyers are realising the necessity of a quality bull and are being quite selective due to the amount of good quality crossing bulls available that are able to produce fast finished calves for the current market place. Purchasers had a lot of faith in Charolais bulls for commercial beef production because the progeny have the ability to hit the target weights efficiently.”

Castellmawr Jacpot 16,000gn

The top priced lot of the day at 50,000gns was the junior and reserve supreme champion Balthayock Justice TI +84 SRI +80, exhibited by David Walter, Balthayock, Perthshire. The 17 month old Justice has previously claimed reserve champion at the Kirriemuir and Perth shows and is sired by the homebred Balthayock Ferdinand. He was purchased in a partnership by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Co Derry and Joe Wilson, Newry, Co Down.

Gilbert Crawford commented: “We bought this bull for his breeding and style, we were impressed by his look and this was backed up by his outstanding performance figures, placing him in the top one percent of the breed. He will make an excellent stock bull for both the Coolnaslee and Ballinlare herds.”

The judge Andrew Hornall of Falleninch, Stirling, concluded: “Justice is a fantastic pedigree animal that has the attributes and efficiencies required for modern beef production, his figures reflect what is required for today’s commercial as well as pedigree market.”

Mr Crawford also sold one of the top priced lots, the 18 month old class winner Deeleview Jonathan TI +64 SRI +56 sired by Blelack Digger was purchased by Greystoke Castle Farms, Penrith, Cumbria for 10,000gns.

Balthayock Justice 50,000gns

Next along at 28,000gns was the 17 month old Maerdy Jerusalem TI +73 SRI +72. Jerusalem was exhibited by Esmor Evans, Mold, Flintshire, who went on to sell a total of six lots to an average of £9345. This son of the 10,000gns Blelack Fabulous was another joint purchase, this time by Redhead and Watson, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland and JHC Campbell and sons, Alnwick, Northumberland.

The Supreme Champion Castellmawr Jacpot went home with Colin and Fiona Wight, Biggar, Lanarkshire for 16,000gns. This 18 month old Goldstar Gentleman son from A and M Williams, Pwhelli, Gwynedd, has already seen success in the show ring having been crowned this year’s junior and male champion at the Royal Welsh Show. The Judge Mr Hornall commented that “he was a great beast with considerable tops, fleshing correctness and power for modern beef production with good pelvis and length of body.”

Also from wales Will Owen, Criccieth, Gwynedd secured 13,000gns for the Senior Champion Deunawd Jeff who was purchased by D and R Durno and Sons, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. The 18 month old son of Allanfauld Cheiftan has previously gained the distinction of becoming the male and reserve supreme champion at the National Charolais show.

A call of 12,000gns was paid by Wallace Brown, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire for Elrick Juno from Michael Massie, Ellon, Aberdeensire. The 17 month old is sired by the 16,000gns supreme Stirling champion Thrunton Fearless.

The 18 month old class winner Marwood Journal was next along at 11,500gns. This 22,000gns Burradon Goldenballs son from RA and J Blyth, Hartlepool, Cleveland who was the Breed Champion at the Great Yorkshire show and was purchased by OTW Chandler, Abergavenny, Gwent.

Next to sell was JHC Campbell, Alnwick, Northumberland who sold a total of five bulls sired by the homebred Thrunton Gladiator to an average of £8925. The first to go at 10,000gns was the 19 month old class winner Thrunton Javelin who went home with JAC Campbell, Thurso, Caithness. Then he received 9,000gns from B Grant, Inverness, Inverness-shire for the 18 month old Thrunton Jackpot. Next along Thrunton Jason who was purchased by Williams Brothers, Blackmill, Bridgend for 8,800gns. Then at 8,200gns going home with WM Barnetson and Sons, Wick, Caithness was Thrunton Jaguar.

Also at 10,000gns was the class winner Blelack Jigsaw TI +65 SRI +64, exhibited by NF Massie, who went on to sell a total of five bulls. Jigsaw a 16 month old son of Caylers Hustler was purchased by Balbirnie Home Farms, Freuchie, Fife.

Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, Dumfries-shire sold two top priced bulls, the first of which went home with DM Keay and Son, Kirriemuir, Angus for 9,500gns. The Goldies Eddy son Gretnahouse Jimbob TI +67 SRI +68. Then securing 8,500gns from C Colgan, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland was the 22 month old Gretnahouse Immense TI +65 SRI +67 sired by Gretnahouse Ultimate.

The reserve intermediate champion was next to go at 9,000gns. Exhibited by Harold Stubbs and Andrew Burleigh, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh was Derryharney Jumbo a 17 month old sired by the 55,000gns Thrunton Voldemort and was purchased by Beattie Livestock, Omagh Co Tyrone.

Also securing 9,000gns for Anne MacPherson, Croy, Inverness-shire was the reserve junior champion Blackford Juniper. He is sired by the 19,000gns Corrie Alan and was purchased by D Bryce and Son, Kilry, Alyth.

Next along at 8,500gns was the 19 month old Blelack Digger son Tillside Jackass TI +62 SRI +60, who was purchased from Redhead and Watson, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland by JC Millar, Kingaoldrum, Kirrimuir.

A final call of 8,000gns was paid by J Wright, Girvan, Ayrshire for the 20 month old Goldies Jubilee TI +72 SRI +64 who is sired by Goldies Gladiator and was exhibited by Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries-shire.

Female Section

The top price in the female section of 6,000gns was paid by Brailes Livestock, Banbury, Oxfordshire for the 20 month old Tillside Jessie by the 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger. Jessie was part of the production sale from EJ & AM Fox, Biggar Lanarkshire who went on to sell 11 more lots to an average of £3290.

Next along was the 23 month old Blelack Blackberet daughter Tillside Icon who was purchased by R and N Barclay, Insch, Aberdeenshire for 4,300gns and securing 3,800gns was Tillside Ingrid. This 21 month old 30,000gns Dingle Hofmesiter daughter was purchased by Redhead and Watson, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland.

D and M Campbell, Lybster, Caithness sold seven females in their production sale the top price of 4,400gns being paid for Caithness Isla, a 27 month old by Corrie Alan going to I and D Goldie Annan, Dumfries-shire.

3,500gns was paid for the female champion from Hamish Goldie. Goldies Illusion TI+62 SRI +60 a 23 month old Blelack Digger Daughter was purchased by C Johnstone, Ripon, North Yorkshire. Mr Goldie also went on to sell the 17 month old reserve female champion Goldies Jiffy TI +60 SRI +58 by Alwent Goldbar who went home with Mr Spence, Norton Dounby, Orkney for 2,600gns.

Also selling to the same price to JH & AG Paton, Kinross, Kinross-shire was Gretnahouse Jeigg, a 17 month old sired by the 12,000gns Wesley Equinox from AG Houston, Gretna Green, Dumfries-shire.